Tying device for hay-balers.



W. H. LEAVITT.

TYINQ DEVICE POR HAY BALBRS. APPLIOATION FILED Nov. o, 1912.

l ,073,499, Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witness@ Inventor 63 Attorneys W. H. LBAVITT.

TYING DEVICE FOR HAY BALERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9,1912. 1,073,499. Patented Sept. 16,1913.

` D Attorneys Witnesses Cri WILLIAM H. LEAVITT,

OF STAT/IPGRI), TEXAS.

1,07 SAM).

To all 12,071,072?, t may concern Be it known that l, YVILLIAivr H. Liimv'rrr, a citizen olf the United States, residing;l at Stamford, in the county ot' Jones and `tiltate o't Texas, have invented a new and use't'ul f tying` lievice ttor Hay-Bakers, ot which the following is a speci'lication.

rthe present invention appertains to automatic tying devices for hay haters and the like, the same being` an improvement over the tying device dinclosed in my itormer latent No. 070,005 issued September 3, 1910.

lt is the object oit the present invention to generally improve tying' devices o't the elasfs to which the prewent invention relates, as well as to increase the ettleiency and utility thereof.

The present invention also eontemplateel the provision ol. novel means tor automatically operating the tying device atter a cel tain number oit strokes o't' the plunger 'nave been made.

llo the above and other ende, which will appear as the tescription proceeds, the invention resides in the etanbinat-ion and arrangementl of parteI and in the details oli construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being,i understood that changes in the precise embodiment ot invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ot. what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

rllhe invention has been illuat rated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference charactersI have been employed to denote corresponding parts, and wherein Figure l in a plan view oit a portion oit a hay baler, parte` beingg,` broken away, .showing the present invention applied thereto.

llig. 2 is a 'tragmental leide elevation thereof. AFig. 3 is an end view ol. the knotting or twisting mechanism. Fig. lt is a longitudinal vertical section oit' the knl'zttingr mechanism. Fig. is a` tiraginental detail in per Speetive. Fig. 6 is an elevation ot a portion of the wire holder or grip. Fig. 7 ie an end elevation ot the parte shown in Fig. (l. Fig. 8 is a 'face view oli the inner knotting` dink. Fig. S iS a itace view oit the outer knottingg disk. Fig. t) ia a sectional detail taken in the line 9 0 of Fig. 8. Fie'. 10 is a trag,rmental detail in elevation. Figs. ll and l are t'ragi'nental perepective viewfs ot the nee dle. Fig. lil is a top view ol. a ratchet wheel, partly broken away, which is employed `tor ln'inginfbr the tying device into operation Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 9, 1912.

"PatentedSept.16,1913.

Serial No. 730,448.

atter a certain number oil l@ti-okee ot the plunger.

'.lhe numeral l5 designates the bale chamber oit the hay baler through which the bale pass 'troni the compressing clnnnber l0, a plunger 17 reciprocating into the compreseing chamber 'lo and being; actuated by the plunger rod 18, an uaual. rl`he said parts are merely illustrated diagranmiatieally, and as they are common and well known in the art, need no 'further description.

ln carrying` out the pres-ent invention, 'the head block llt) preferably Secured to the plunger ilT so as to strike the end ot the newly completed bale Q0, the Said head block having' Slots; therein through which the needlee4 ot the tying' device are adapted to paas.

A U-Shaped needle yoke 2l atraddlea the bale chamber l5 Yfrom the rear aide aa neen in the drawings, the reapective armsol. the yoke standingl above and below the bale chamber and being; tulcrulned to the trame nl the bale chamber, ae deaig'nated at The tree ends ot the arme ot the yoke are adapted to oseillate at the other or Ytar side et the bale chamht and have Aaeeured there to the arcuate or curved needles: Q3, which needleel are adapted to pase. through the slots in the head block 10 atter the head block has been 'toreed inwardly by the plunger 17. As illustrrded a pair o't the needles: have been employed. but it is: understood that any number o'l'I `needles` and cornplementary knottinfe' meehanlame may be provided. The cystl o't the needle are termed by a pair ot' rollers or pulleys 2l pivoted to each needle adjacent its tip. each pair oli rollers beine' connected at their outer tareay by a metallic Strip or strap 25, which completes the needle eye. The rollers t ari` arranged obliquely or diagonally relative to the needle, as clearly apparent in lfigr. l, and the rollers are alao diaposed on the bottoni sides of the needle?,l to coperatiI with the knottinp; mechanisms as hereinafter deeeribed. llarh `needle is also provided with a {rroovrd ledge Q0 extending' '.tfroin its eye lo an intermediate point, in which the strand ot' wire carried by the needle is adapted to lie.

lhe knotting or twisting mechanism tor the onda o't" the band engaging the bale has been designated generally by the numeral QT, it heintgj` understood that one ot these knottine' meelmnisme is employed in eonnertion with each needle. Each knotting mechanism comprises a ahell. or traine EES haring its inner end standing obliquely or diagonally, as indicated by the numeral 29, said inner end being secured to the side of the bale chainber frame adjacentthe forward end of the frame and at a suitable point thereon, thereby positioning the frame 2S and the knotting mechanism obli-auely or diagonally relative to the bale chamber frame in order to effect a better knotting or twisting of the ends of the band. rthe inner end of the frame 23 is also provided with a recess 30 forming an abutment 31, a shear or knife blade 31a being dove-tailed into the abutmenty 31. rhe top of the frame 28'is in the form of a gable, or slopes from a central longitudinal line toward each side. fr longitur1 inal tubular shaft 32 is journaled through the. frame 28 adiacent the ridge thereof and extends from the abutment to the outer end of the frame, while a solid shaft 33 is journaled through the tubular shaft in order to provide means for actuating` the outer or tubular shaft 32, a pinion 34 is mounted thereon acent outer end, the said pinion working within an opening in the frame so as to be constrained against longitudinali movement, and the said pinion carrjing a feather working in a longitudinal feather way provided in the shaft 32, thus permitting the shaft 32 to be adjusted longitudinally relative to the frame and the pinion without affecting the operative relation of the said shaft and the pinion. ii pair of jam nuts 327 are screw threaded onto the outer end of the tubular shaft 32 and bear against the outer end of the frame 38,

and a pair of jam nuts 38 are screw-threaded onto the outer end of the shaft 33 and bear against the jam nutsV 37 or the end of the shaft 32. To the inner ends of the respective shafts 32 and 33 are attached the knotting or twisting disks 39 and 40, the outer disk 39 working against the abutment- 31 over the shear or knife blade 31a. it will be seen at this point, that by tightening the ani nuts 37, the disk 33 may be adjusted relative to the abutment, or the friction between the said disk and abutment may be increased or diminished. 1t will also appear that by adjusting the jam nuts 38 on the shaft 33, the disks 39 and 40 may be spaced apart more or less in` order to accommodate the particular of wire employed for tying the bale, as will be more clearly understood as the description proceeds. The outer disk 39 Valso carries a pair of diametrically opposite friction devices 41 for engaging the disk 40 in order that the disk 40 may be carried with the disk 39 unless it is restrained against rotation. Each of the knotting or twisting disks are provided with a pair of opposite open slots 42 arranged to one side of a diametrical line, which are adapted to receive the wire or the ends of the bale engaging band. T he inner and outer disks are being provided.

provided with the respective deep peripheral notches 43 and 43, which are wider than the slots 42, and into which a lug 45 overhanging the disks and carried by a spring 44 is adapted to snap or engage. The notch43 is so positioned relative to the slots 42, or at quadrants therewith, that when the lug 45 engages in the notch 43 the slots 42 will be held horizontally or in wire receiving position. The ends of theV notch 43 or the shoulders formed by the notch are square and the notch is designed to snugly receive the lug 45 so that the disk 40 may be restrained from turning, whereas the notch 43 is longer and has its ends or shoulders beveled or inclined so as to raise the lug 45 from out of the notch 43 after the disk 39 has turned slightly while the disk 40 is held by the lug 45 so as to bring the slots 42 of the two disks out of registration. The two disks are each provided with a shallow notch or recess 43 opposite the respective notches 43 and 43, the ends or shoulders of the notches 43H being beveled or inclined. The

luO 45 is ada ted to enOaO'e li htl Y in the` t: l H b w Y notcnes so as to normally hold the disks in wire receiving position when the needles are retracted. 1t is also essential that the inner knotting disk 4G should only have a limited Vswinging' or rotary movement rela tive to the outer disk 39, this being accomplished by means of an arcuate slotf46 provided in the inner disk through which a pin 47 engages or works, the pin being secured to the outer disk. The pin and slot are so arranged that when the disk 39 is rotated fori'vardly, due to the forward stroke of the needle as will hereinafter appear, the outer disk may rotate relative to the inner disk in order to bring the slots 42 out of regis tration, and after the slots have been brought out of registration sufiiciently, the pin 47 serving to carry the inner disk with the outer disk in a positive manner. Conversely, when the outer disk is rotated backward, due to the retraction ofthe needle, the pin 47 will strike the other end of the slot 46, so that the slots 42 ofthe two disks are in registration, and the inner disks will then be carried positively with the outer disk, for the purposes hereinafter described.

rEhe parts just described 'comprise the knettiug or twisting mechanism in its essentials, a guard for the said mechanism also his guard consists in a plate 48 carried by the frame 28 and standing over the inner face of the inne-r disk 40,' Y

linger 51 projecting from the top ot' the guard to assist in directing the wire into the registering slots oit the knotting or twisting disks.

Each of the needles 23 is provided with a rack 52 adapted to inter-mesh with the pinions 3l when the needle is projected through the head block. and with a cam (38. The teeth oit the pinion and rack are each set obliquely, as clearly ill i'lstratcd in Fig. l, it being understood that the racks ol the upper and lower needles are arranged on the lower sides ot' the needles. ln order to hold the needle in mesh with the pinion, a bracket 53 has been secured to the outer end ot the jt'rame 28 and carries an overhanging roller 5t adapted to contact with the upper face oit the upper needle, whereas the reverse is the ease with the lower needle, as will be understood.

The wire holder or grip is mounted on the frame Q8 directly outside of the knotting or twisting disks, and to one side ot the axis thereof, or the axis oit' the shafts 32 and 355. For convenience, the side ol. the axis of the knotting disks to which the wire holder or grip has been set will be called the farther side, due to the fact that it is arranged on the side fartlieri'nost from the needle. The traine 28 is provided with a longitudinal seat or shoulder 55 adjacent its ridge and on the tar side of the ridge, and a post or upright 5G projects from the frame adjacent the seat at its inner end. The wire holder or grip proper has been designated by the .numeral 57, and the sam-e beingl fulerumed or pivoted to the post 5G by .means ol the pivot 58 and having :its free end in the form of a toothed eain tace 59 cooperating with the toothed boss GO on the seat The holder or grip 57 is adapted to swing away from the toothed boss G0 in an inward direction, or toward the disks. The inner or :tulcrumed end olf the holder 57 is rabbeted or eut away, as designated by the numeral (3l, and a lever 62 is 'lulcrumed to the pivot 58 within the said rabbeted or cut away portion, in order that the said lever may swing upward without affecting the holder, and may swing downward so as to swing the .holder ujj wardl rlhe holder 57 and the lever (l2 are both given a downward swinging tendency by means oit a double leali' spring ($53 secured to the upper end ot the post 56 and engagingl the holder and lever, respectively. Thus, the holder 57 will normally be depressed into engagement or cooperation with the toothed boss GO, and the lever G2 will be normally depressed, but not sutliciently to raise the holder. The lever G2 is normally held in an inclined position, as clearly shown in Fig. l, the spring G3 pre venting the said lever 'trom being thrown upwardly or out of operative position. A projection 6-l rises from the boss G0 adjacent the inner tace of the holder 57, `for the purpose which will hereinafter appear.

A guide linger (55 secured at its butt end to the post 5o and projects over the ridge ot' thc it'rame to guide the wire carried by the needle over the ridge and under the wire holder or grip, the said linger being provided with a shoulder G6 at its heel for preventing the wire :trom swinging excessively, or beyond the wire holder or grip. The post 5G is also j )rovided with a chute or passage (37 leading downward lrorn the wire holder or grip, and the guide linger serves lto direct the wire carried by the needle over the boss (3() and under the wire holder or grip in such a manner as to wipe the short piece ot wire therebetween out through the chute or passage (57 and from the knotting or twistingl mechanism. This short piece oitl wire is lelt under the holder aitter the wire has been cnt, just previous to the knotting or twisting of the ends ot the band, as will hereinafter more lnlly appear.

As a means for automatically actuating thc tying,l device, there has been provided the following mechanism: A pitman (58 is con nected to the intermediate portion of the needle yokc 2l by a knuckle or universal joint, and is adapted to oscillatc between the two tying devices, said pitman extending forwardly to a point beyond the compress ing` chamber lo, and working through a journal bearing (it) connected by knuckle or universal joint to an arm carried by the plunger rod 18. The bearing (3l) in being pivoted to the arm 70 will permit the bearing to swing with the pitnian, when the pitman is actuated. l'his pitinan is actuated at intervals, or intermittently, by means o'li a ratchet wheel 72 piroted to an extension 71 ol the bearing titl, the said ratchet wheel carryingl a yielding wrist pin 7tlon its outer lace, lwhich is adapted to be swung into a notch or slot 75 in the pitman, during each revolution lhereoit. The ratchet wheel is given an intermittent or step by step movement, in order that it will rotate once lor every six or seven completi` strokes of the plunger rod liti, this result beingl obtallied by means ol a dog or pawl 75 car ried by the hay baler trame at the itorward end thereo't, and in the path ot the ratchet wheel. 'the pawl or dop,- 75 is arranged in such a position that when the plunger rod 1S is in its outermost position, or at the end o'tI its out-ward stroke, the dog will engage one ot' the teeth ot the ratchet wheel and will turn the ratchet wheel through a suitable arc. The ratchet; wheel is prevented `from retrograde or reverse movement by means ot a pawl or dog 7o carried by the bearing (il) and continually engaging the ratchet wheel. The pitman (38 normally stands in its most 'forward position, so that the needles 23 are retracted to the 'tar side of the bale chamber during the formation of the bale. ian audible signal isV also provided for warning the feeder when it is time `for the ends of the bands engaging the bale to be knotted or twisted together, in order that he may withhold the charge of hay during the knotting or twisting operation.L

The audible signal mechanism is actuated by a tappet 77 carried by the inner face of the ratchet wheel 72, the said tappet being brought into the path of an actuating member 78 for a gong 79 carried by the hay baler frame. The tappet 77 and actuating member 78 are so arranged, that the gong will be sounded just prior to the knotting or twisting of the ends of the bands, thus warning the feeder.

A spool of wire 8O is mounted the far side of the hay baler frame, it being understood that a spool of wire is provided for each mounting mechanism, and a suitable tension device 81 isprorided adjacent each spool.

T he wire band for the bale hasbeen designated by the numeral 82, which extends to the spool 80, the wire being drawn from the spool and so manipulated as to be passed around the bale to form the band, as will hereinafter appear.

1n operation, the pitman 68 normally stands at the forward end of its stroke, so that the needles are retracted to the far side of the bale chamber, and as the plunger rod 18 reciprocates, the bearing 69 will slide back and forth on the pitman without actuating the pitman. Then as the plunger rod 18 moves toward the outer end of its stroke each time, the ratchet wheel 72 will be brought into engagement with the pawl 7 5 and will be given a slight turn. lifter Ya predetermined number of strokes of the plunger rod 18 have been made to complete the bale under construction the Vwrist pin 73 Vwill bev swung or carried into the notch 74 of the pit-man, and upon the next inward stroke of the plunger rod, the pitman will be carried with it. VGiust prior to the engagement of the wrist pin 78 with the pitman, the gong is sounded warning the feeder or attendant, in order that the charge of hay may be withheld. rhen as the plunger rod forces the pitman rearwardly or inwardly, the needle yoke 21 will be swung so to pass or project the needles 23 through the head block. rlhe needles in passing through the head block will be brought into cooperation with the knotting or twisting mechanisms, so that the knotting or twisting mechanisms are brought into operation automatically.

The operation of the tying device is as follows: Supposing that the end of the wire 83 is gripped by the holder 57, and that the corresponding needle has been retracted from the head block, so that the said wire will be drawn back through the slot in the head block and betweenv a pair of registering'notclies 42, then as the new bale is completed and forced rearwardly in the bale chamber 15, the wire will be drawn therewith so as to pass over the sides and the rear end of the bale. Then as the needle yoke 21 is swung by the rearward or inward stroke of thefpitman 68, the corresponding needle will be projected through the head block, thus carrying the wire over the forward end of the bale, it being 'understood that the wire is threaded `through the eye of the needle or betweenl the rollers 24. Then as the needle passes through the head block, the rack 52 will engage with the pin-V ion 84, and the disks 39 and 40 will be rotated forwardly, or in a. counter-clockwise" direction, as seen in Fig. 8. The parts are so timed, that when the disks have been rotated through an arc of less than 180o, the other registering slots 4t2 will be brought vso into wire receiving position below the guide Y finger 51, and the strand extending LVfrom the eye of the needle around the bale will be passed into the registering slots l2. opposite the slots through which the end of the wire passes. Thenotchll of the Vinner disk l() is then turned in such a position that the lug l5 will engage therewith', thereby restraining the inner disk against turning, the outer disk, however, being positively rotated, which will cause the wire to be kinked between the two disks, it being noted that the two disks are suiiiciently spaced apart to receive the wire therebef tween. Then as the 'lug is r ised by the beveied end of the notch 43, the pin 47 carried by the outer disk 39 willV engage the end of the slot 46 in the inner disk 40, and the inner disk will be carried with the outer disk, and the wire will be sheared or clipped between the edges of the slots l2 of the outer disk and the shear or knife blade 31a, as will be apparent. The end Vof the lwire being sheared or clipped off between the outer disk and the knife, will leave a short piece below the holder or grip 57 on the boss 6G, and direct-ly after thisrpiece has been sheared oft', the cam 68 carried by the needle will engage the lever 62 and will swing Vthe same downwardly so as to release the holder or grip 57. rIhe shortpiece of wire'is thus released, and as thestrand of wire eXtending from the eye of the needle around the bale passes into the registering slots as above described, the same will be directed over the ridge o-f the frame 28 and under the holder or grip by means of the guide finger 65, so as to wipe or kick the short piece of wire from under the holder, said 4piece of wire Vpassing downwardly through the chute or y last end oit the band. The new end of the wire is thus gripped below the holder 57, and as the needle moves toward the outer end ot its stroke, the wire will be unrolled from the spool or reel S0, and the strand extending' l'rom the eye oi the needle to the spool will pass around and within the grooved ledge 2G so as not to interfere with the knctting or twisting` disks, or other parts oi" the knotting` or twisting mechanism. The outward stroke ot the needle will also rotate the disks in order to knot or twist the ends the band together, it being` noted that the ends of the band are firmly gripped between the disks. Then as the plunger rod 1S moves outward so as to move the pitman GS outward or forward therewith, the needle will be retracted, and the disks will he given a reverse or backward rotation, clockwise as seen in Fig. 3. The notch 43 of the inner disk will be engaged by the lug 45, and the outer disk will turn slightly while the inner disk is restrained, until the lug' l5 is raised by the beveled end ot' the notch 43 and the pin i? strikes the proper end ot.' the slot 46, in which event, the inner disk will be rotated positively with the outer disk. In the meantime, the slots 4t2 of the disks will be brought into registration, and the ends of the band will be treed or released, so that the bale .may pass rearwardly in the bale chamber thereby carrying' the ends ot the band away from the knotting' or twisting mechanism. The new end oit the wire, however, is still gripped by the holder 57, and as the needle is retracted from the head block, the wire will be drawn backward over the projection 64:, and through a pair ot registering' slots l2 of the disks, the wire extending from the said slots across the bale chamber' 15 so as to tie the succeeding' bale. as above described. The parts are so timed that when the needle releases the pinion 34, the notches 43 will be engaged by the lug l5 so as to hold the proper slots l2 in position to receive the wire as the needle is retracted from the head block. The lug 1-5, however, is readily released from the notches d3 when the disks are actuated by the needle.

`From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawing, the advantages of the present device will be apparent to those versed in the art, it being noted that the tying' device is actuated automatically atter a predetermined number of strokes ot the plunger rod have been made.

Having; thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new is l. In combination with a hay baler, a knotting` mechanism secured diagonally to one side thereof and embodying' a wire cutter, a wire holder cooperatingr with the wire cutter.r a yoke pivoted to the baler with the pivotal point disposed between the sides ot the baler, and a. curved needle carried by the yoke adapted to be swung through the baler :from the side opposite the knot-ting' mechanism and cooperating' with the said mechanism to actnate same. the needle having means to release the holder.

2. in r'zombination with a hay balcr, a knott'ingr mechanism secured liagonally to one side thereoit' and embodying a wire cutter, an actuating' sha'lt, and a pinion on the shatt; a wire holder cooperating with the said cutter; a yoke pivoted to the baler with the pivotal point disposed between the sides ot the baler, and a curved needle carried by the yoke adapted to be swung through the baler from the side opposite the knotting mechanism, the needle having a rack adapted to mesh with the said pinion, the teeth ot the rack and pinion beingI set obliquely, and the needle having' means` to release the said holder.

3, ln a knotting' mechanism for bale tie bands. a con'ii'ilementary pair of disks having' diametrically opposite slots, means 'for rotating' one disk, one disk having; a slot and the other disk having a pin engaging' in the slot for constraining the disks for limited swinging' movements relative to each other to brina' the slots into and out ot registration, yieldingl itrictional means between the disks tending to revolve the disks together, and a spring' having a lug', the -tree disk havinga peripheral notch engageable bythe lug to restrain it trom turning due to the `friction of the latter means, the driven disk having' a peripheral notch to consonantly receive the lue' and to release the lug' atter the driven disk has rotated a predetermined amount relative to the 'tree disk, and both disks having' peripheral notches to receive the lua1 to hold the disks in wire-receiving4 position. l

4l. in a knot-ting' mechanism iter bale tic bands, a shell, a tubular shaft journaled therein.` a shail't jonrnaled through the tubular shaft, complementary knot'tingr disks secured to the inner ends of the respective shatts, means lor rotating' the tubular shatt, and means lior adjusting the latter shaft within the former.

ln a knotting' mechanism tor bale tie bands, a shell having' an abutment at its inner end, a knite secured in the abutment, a tubular shatt journaled through the shell trom the abutment, a pinion mounted in the shell on the tubular shat't: and constrained to turn with the sha'lt and slide relative thereto, a sha't't journaled through the tubular shaft, complementary knotting' disks secured to the inner ends ot' the respective shalts` means for adjusting' the tubular sha'tt to adjust the outer disk relative to the kni'le` and means for adjusting' the other shaft within the tubular sha lt to adjust the disks relative to each other.

6. In a knotting mechanism for bale tiel bands, a shell having an abutment at its inner end, a knife secured to the abutment, a tubular shat't journaled Vthrough the shell from the abutment to the outer end, means tor rotating the said shaft, a shattjournaled through the tubular shaft, complementary knotting disks secured to the inner ends to the respective shafts, a member adjustable on the outer end of the tubular shaft and bearing against the outer end of the shell, and a member adjustable on the outer end of the other shaft.

7. ln a tying device for hay balers, a shell, a knotting mechanism mounted thereon, a cutter cooperating with Vthe knotting mechanism, a spring pressed wire holder pivoted to the shell adjacent the cutter and cooperating with the shell, and a needle coy operating with the knotting mechanism havl ing means to release the holder.

8. ln a tying device for hay balers, a shell, a knot-ting mechanism mounted thereon, a cutter cooperating with the knotting mechanism, a spring pressed wire holder pivoted to the shell adjacent the cutter and cooperating with the shell, a lever coperating with the holder'to release same, and a needle to operate the lrnotting mechanism and having a cam to swing the said lever so as to release the wire holder.

9. In a tying device for hay balers, a shell, a knotting mechanism mounted thereon, a cutter cooperating with the lrnotting mechanism, a spring pressed wire holder pivoted to the shell adjacent the cutter and cooperating with the shell, a needle to operate the knot-ting mechanism and having means to release the holder, and a guide ringer secured to the shell and serving to direct the wire under the wire holder and to wipe the short piece of wire from under the holder.

10. ln combination with a hay baler, a knotting mechanism secured diagonally to one side tiereot and embodying a wire cutter, a wire holder coperating with the said cutter, and a curved needle adapted to be swung through the head block trom the opposite side and cooperating with the said mechanism to actuate the same, the needle having means to release the holder, a pair of rollers pivoted to the needle adjacent its tip to provide the eye, and t-he needle being provided with a grooved ledge extending from the said eye in which the strand of wire extending from the eye to a spool is adapted to lie.

ll. ln combination with a hay baler, a lrnotting mechanism secured diagonally to one side thereof and embodying a wire eutter, an actuating shaft, and a pinion on the shaft; a wire holder coperating with the said cutter; a yoke pivoted to the baler with the pivot point between the sides of the baler, a curved needle carried by the yoke adapted to be swung through the baler from the side opposite the knotting mechanism, the needle having a rack adapted to mesh with the said pinion, the teeth of the rack and pinion being set obliquely, and the needle having means to release the holder; and a guide roller carried by the knotting mechanism for engaging'the needle to retain the needle in mesh with the pinion.

l2. ln combination with a hay bal'er, a l-:notting mechanism secured diagonally to one side thereof and embodying a wire cutter, an actuating shaft, and a pinion on the shaft; a wire holder cooperating with the said cutter; a curved needle adapted to be swung through the head block from the opposite side, the needle having a rack on one side adapted to mesh with the pinion, i Y

the teeth of the rack and pinion being set obliquely, the needle having anv eye adjacent its tip, and a grooved ledge extending from the eye to receive the strand of 'the wire extending to a spool; and a guide roller adapted to Contact with the other side of the needle to hold the rack in mesh with the pinion. c

13. ln combination with a hay baler, a tying mechanism, a pitman connected there-V to for operating the tying mechanism, a bearing carried by the actuating mechanism ofthe baler and loosely engaging the pitman, so that the bearing slides along the pitinan as the plunger rod of the baler reciprocates, operative means carried by the bearing and adapted toengage the pitman at the outer end of the stroke of the plunger rod, and means tor intermittently operating the said means as the plunger rods reciprocate. y

la. ln combination with a hay baler, a tying mechanism, a-pitman connected thereto for operating the tying mechanisrmfa bearing carried by the plunger rod of Vthe baler and loosely engaging the pitman, operative means carried by the bearing and adapted to engage the pitman at the outer end oit the stroke of the plunger rod, means tor intermittentlyT operating the said means as the plunger rod reciprocates', an audibleY signal, and means carried by the aforesaid means :tor operating the audible signal prior to the engagement ot the aforesaid means with the pitman.- V

l5 ln combination with a hay baler, a

ico

ilo

izo

tying meelmnism, :i pitlnzm connected to the tying mechanism for actuating same, n henring carried by the plunger rod of the bnler and loosely embracing the pitnoan, e ratchet wheel carried by the bearing and having :l projection to engage the pitnmn, :intl zt clog carried by 'the freine oft' the buler and lying in the path of the ratchet Wheel te i11terinittently eetuzite sume es the plunger rofl reeiprooetes.

17. ln combination with e hay beller, a tying mechanism, zt pitlnnn Connected thereto i'er actuating the saine, e bearing carried by the plunger rod oit' the loaler and loosely embracing the pitmzm, 2L ratchet Wheel earriefl by the beznfing :intl having n projection Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

